Bloody cobblestones!!

[katie@camino]

Excuse my Australian, but after walking on cobblestones for 2 days, i have a newfound appreciation for tarmac.

On the other hand - the Portugese people deserve a special place in heaven - i have been STUNNED by their kindness. I had read others comments on here saying the same thing but had assumed it was just 1 or 2 lucky encounters. But constantly, Portugese people go out of their way to help and guide and provise support. Incredible. I am not sure if this is the Camino spirit or the Portugese spirit???

 

[Former member 42123]

Excuse my Australian, but after walking on cobblestones for 2 days, i have a newfound appreciation for tarmac.

On the other hand - the Portugese people deserve a special place in heaven - i have been STUNNED by their kindness. I had read others comments on here saying the same thing but had assumed it was just 1 or 2 lucky encounters. But constantly, Portugese people go out of their way to help and guide and provise support. Incredible. I am not sure if this is the Camino spirit or the Portugese spirit???

- your post echoes exactly a previous post of mine.I loved the country,the weather and above all the people,but I hated the seemingly endless cobblestones.The people who went out of their way to help and their kindness will live with me forever.

 

[katie@camino]

- your post echoes exactly a previous post of mine.I loved the country,the weather and above all the people,but I hated the seemingly endless cobblestones.......

Seemingly endless??!! Tell me it isnt so!

 

[Kiwi-family]

Nah, if you've done two days, there's only one more to go - assuming you've just left Porto!!

 

[gerardcarey]

I remember a few rough days when I swore a lot.
We expect cobblestones in Portugal, that's part of the deal, and the delight.
But on quiet country roads they were unexpected.
Not that they are everywhere because they definitely are not.
But I get grumpy when they are.
Next time I'll take a set of those really really comfy squishy innersoles and pop them in when needed.
Regards
Gerard....a Portugeezer

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Cobble stones? Walk in Hoka One Ones. Like walking on a cloud. Apparently the Altras also have nice cushioning.

 

[katie@camino]

Nah, if you've done two days, there's only one more to go - assuming you've just left Porto!!

Thankyou kiwi-family, such a relief to hear this!

 

[katie@camino]

I remember a few rough days when I swore a lot.
We expect cobblestones in Portugal, that's part of the deal, and the delight.
But on quiet country roads they were unexpected.
Not that they are everywhere because they definitely are not.
But I get grumpy when they are.
Next time I'll take a set of those really really comfy squishy innersoles and pop them in when needed.
Regards
Gerard....a Portugeezer

Thankyou kiwi-family, such a relief to hear this!

Ha! Grumpy....love it...

 

[Kiwi-family]

Good to see ya @gerardcarey
I was starting to wonder if Portugal had swallowed you whole. Prithee tell us a tale.

 

[Finisterre]

Not got a lot of give in them have they? I associate those granite lumps with pain. It's amazing that something so pretty can hurt your skeleton so much after a day of mindlessly mooching along on them.

Tarmac. I love it.


and
Yes, the Portuguese people are lovely and their country is great. Later inthe season I have been inundated with fresh grapes from their vines. And impromptu wine tastings. I want to live there.

 

[gerardcarey]

Good to see ya @gerardcarey
I was starting to wonder if Portugal had swallowed you whole. Prithee tell us a tale.

I've been busy attempting to set a new world record for the longest length of time it takes for a pilgrim to walk from Lisbon to Santiago. Just home, a little worse for wear, but had an adventurous time.
As to my erratic scribblings, fear not. By my troth, fair maid, one estorie will arrive this very Frīgedæg.
Regards
Gerard....the Portugeezer...

 

[Kanga]

And I go back to the important question: how many Pastel de Nata can one person eat in a day?

 

[amorfati1]

Excuse my Australian, but after walking on cobblestones for 2 days, i have a newfound appreciation for tarmac.

On the other hand - the Portugese people deserve a special place in heaven - i have been STUNNED by their kindness. I had read others comments on here saying the same thing but had assumed it was just 1 or 2 lucky encounters. But constantly, Portugese people go out of their way to help and guide and provise support. Incredible. I am not sure if this is the Camino spirit or the Portugese spirit???

it's the portuguese spirit -
have been in Portugal over the decades, unrelated to Caminho - and i've had those heart-warming encounters and experiences in all regions and seasons.
it's just a beautiful heart-quality that lives there. (has shadow sides as well of course, but that is another topic)
sometimes thought that those hard cobbles are to counter-balance the soft hearts

 

[LTfit]

Nah, if you've done two days, there's only one more to go - assuming you've just left Porto!!

Did you do the Senda Litoral / Caminho Portugês da Costa? Because I had all kinds of hard surfaces much of the way in Portugal. Maybe my imagination but it seemed beter once we entered Spain (or I just got used to it).

One day walking 35 km by myself I made a picture of all the diverse surfaces. I wanted to upload all 5 to show but can only do one. And if I add the wooden boardwalks and mosaic there would be many more!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

And I go back to the important question: how many Pastel de Nata can one person eat in a day?

They sell them in boxes of 6 here at home. That is one portion, right?

 

[PathMan]

I presume you haven't followed the Senda Litoral, where, for the first couple of days out of Porto you walk on a tremendous surface, a wooden boardwalk! It gives a little back in spring from each step! But I agree, once you hit the cobblestones they are HELL if you have blisters on your soles!"Buen Dia"
And as for the friendliness of the Portuguese, personally, I found the Spanish more likely to respond with a "Buen Dia" to our small group than the Portuguese, possibly because the Spanish recognised us instantly as Peregrino's (we were on the Interior route from Tui by this time)?

 

[Bradypus]

And I go back to the important question: how many Pastel de Nata can one person eat in a day?

Depends on how far they have walked and how many calories they have burned on the way....

 

[Deleted member 56069]

The generous and kind Portuguese people certainly more than made up for the challenge of walking on cobble stone trails out of Porto on the central route which after day 2 we refereed to as 'hobble stones.'
Normally I don't like walking on asphalt surfaces, but compared to cobble stones, asphalt felt like walking on foam rubber in comparison.
But we loved Portugal and will certainly go back again.

 

[Elle Bieling]

Just completed the CP from Lisbon to SDC. The cobblestone will not end until you reach Spain! Wish I knew about the Hokas before I left. I bought cushioned inserts for my trail shoes, about 5 days into the camino! It only helped a little. It was only the Pastel de Nata and the kindness of the Portuguese that got me through!

 

[katie@camino]

Not got a lot of give in them have they? I associate those granite lumps with pain. It's amazing that something so pretty can hurt your skeleton so much after a day of mindlessly mooching along on them.

Tarmac. I love it.


and
Yes, the Portuguese people are lovely and their country is great. Later inthe season I have been inundated with fresh grapes from their vines. And impromptu wine tastings. I want to live there.

I will never look at them the same way!

 

[katie@camino]

it's the portuguese spirit -
have been in Portugal over the decades, unrelated to Caminho - and i've had those heart-warming encounters and experiences in all regions and seasons.
it's just a beautiful heart-quality that lives there. (has shadow sides as well of course, but that is another topic)
sometimes thought that those hard cobbles are to counter-balance the soft hearts

Good to know this, thankyou!

 

[katie@camino]

Did you do the Senda Litoral / Caminho Portugês da Costa? Because I had all kinds of hard surfaces much of the way in Portugal. Maybe my imagination but it seemed beter once we entered Spain (or I just got used to it).

One day walking 35 km by myself I made a picture of all the diverse surfaces. I wanted to upload all 5 to show but can only do one. And if I add the wooden boardwalks and mosaic there would be many more!

No i did the Central way from Porto. Spent an afternoon in Matasinhos and realised i wanted greenery. But i would have loved to experience the Senda Litoral for just a few hours

 

[katie@camino]

[QUOTE="LTfit, post: 529912, member:

One day walking 35 km by myself I made a picture of all the diverse surfaces. I wanted to upload all 5 to show but can only do one. And if I add the wooden boardwalks and mosaic there would be many more![/QUOTE]

I would love to see this collage!

 

[katie@camino]

I presume you haven't followed the Senda Litoral, where, for the first couple of days out of Porto you walk on a tremendous surface, a wooden boardwalk! It gives a little back in spring from each step! But I agree, once you hit the cobblestones they are HELL if you have blisters on your soles!"Buen Dia"
And as for the friendliness of the Portuguese, personally, I found the Spanish more likely to respond with a "Buen Dia" to our small group than the Portuguese, possibly because the Spanish recognised us instantly as Peregrino's (we were on the Interior route from Tui by this time)?

Yes i have noticed the same thing. Although extremely kind, i have noticed the Portugese seem reserved...perhaps not wanting to intrude

 

[katie@camino]

Just completed the CP from Lisbon to SDC. The cobblestone will not end until you reach Spain! Wish I knew about the Hokas before I left. I bought cushioned inserts for my trail shoes, about 5 days into the camino! It only helped a little. It was only the Pastel de Nata and the kindness of the Portuguese that got me through!

This makes me think i need more Nata - have only had 1 in 7 days of being in Portugal!

 

[Rina22]

- your post echoes exactly a previous post of mine.I loved the country,the weather and above all the people,but I hated the seemingly endless cobblestones.The people who went out of their way to help and their kindness will live with me forever.

I too hated the cobblestones. I fell the first day as I approached the Douro River in Porto and thought my camino was finished...fortunately nothing was broken or severely twisted so I continued on my way but that day May 23rd was 34 celsius at 8:30 am and as I limped along my feet quickly become very sore at the hard unforgiving and uneven surface...thought relief would come on the boardwalks but they were just as hard...all that being said I loved the Atlantic Coast and the Portuguese people were fabulous, so friendly and willing to help even without understanding English.

 

[KariC]

Excuse my Australian, but after walking on cobblestones for 2 days, i have a newfound appreciation for tarmac.

On the other hand - the Portugese people deserve a special place in heaven - i have been STUNNED by their kindness. I had read others comments on here saying the same thing but had assumed it was just 1 or 2 lucky encounters. But constantly, Portugese people go out of their way to help and guide and provise support. Incredible. I am not sure if this is the Camino spirit or the Portugese spirit???

I agree on both counts - grew to dread seeing cobblestones, and yes, the Portuguese people are just wonderful!

 

[WayWalker]

My husband named them "hobblestones".

 

[LTfit]

Back in Santiago after 8 days on the Caminho Portugês da Costa from Porto.
Attesting to the hard surfaces, the soles of my Salomon trail runners are almost shot! Only yesterday I noted how worn they were. They were new prior to starting my Camino (~340 km Norte, SdC to Finisterre and Caminho Portugês da Costa from Porto).
Hmm never saw this happen after 3 weeks of walking.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

At the risk of being called a pedant they are NOT bloody cobblestones!

These are bloody cobblestones (definition: a naturally rounded stone, larger than a pebble and smaller than a boulder, formerly used in paving.)



Cobblestones are naturally formed, rounded stones and a pain to walk over especially when wet.

What you (and I) walked over are bloody granite setts



. . . . unless you're an architect of course - they ALWAYS get it wrong! (Can I have some of those pretty stone things please?)

(Disgruntled Highway Engineer)

 

[Bradypus]

At the risk of being called a pedant they are NOT bloody cobblestones!

I've been accused of pedantry now and again. I like to think that is just one of those irregular constructions that are so common in English: "I am correct", "You are being pedantic", "He/she is just being a pain in the ...."

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I've been accused of pedantry now and again. I like to think that is just one of those irregular constructions that are so common in English: "I am correct", "You are being pedantic", "He/she is just being a pain in the ...."

Oh I do love that SO much!

 

[Jacobus]

This makes me think i need more Nata - have only had 1 in 7 days of being in Portugal!

Thr ratio of nata to napkins required is 1 piece to 7 napkins so if you eat a box of 6 thrn it increases to 42 napkins and a long shower

 

[ouroboros]

The granite setts were a bear to walk on. I walked the entire Frances without blisters, but by day three on the CP I was in agony though I wore the same boots with insoles. I saw many spots where there were piles of these granite stones by roadside where they were clearly going to add more to the route....groan! Did they get this concept of pathway building from the Romans?

 

[Gillyweb]

The granite setts were a bear to walk on. I walked the entire Frances without blisters, but by day three on the CP I was in agony though I wore the same boots with insoles. I saw many spots where there were piles of these granite stones by roadside where they were clearly going to add more to the route....groan! Did they get this concept of pathway building from the Romans?

I walked the entire Francés 1 and a half time without a blister. Three days here and I look like my feet have been attacked by a giant bear. ( Onay - that's rubbish but I'm too tired and in too much pain to think of a suitable simile !! ;-) I don't care what they are called - they're killing me

 

[KariC]

You have my sympathy - so picturesque, and they SO get to your feet even through boots that have worked in every possible terrain before! I finally ended up skirting the stones, even walking sort of at an angle off to the side!!